Virus plagues Balkan region

Published on 21/09/2012 00:00

At LEAST four people in the Balkans have died from the mosquito-borne West Nile virus and dozens more have been hospitalised in the past four weeks, according to authorities in Serbia, Kosovo and Croatia.

Kosovo confirmed its first fatality on Wednesday, saying the victim was a woman from central Kosovo who died on September 14.

In Serbia, three people have died and 35 have been hospitalised since mid-August. Croatia has registered five probable cases of the virus but no deaths.